Vacuum-lift.



E. N. HOGUE. VACUUM L IFT. APPLICATION man mac. 6. 1916..

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

INVENTOR fiWM/YWMe WITNESSES ATTORNEY E. N. HOGUE.

VACUUM LEFT.

APfLlCATION FILED DEC. 6, I916- Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

INV'ENTOR ATTOR N EY WITNESSES ERNEST 1\T. HOGUE, OF TILKIN$BURGPENNSYLVANIA.

vacuum-Lira.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

' Application filed December 6, 1916. Serial n. 135,409.

the like, from one location to another by ele rating the objects throughthe medium of a vacuum element, accomplishing; the transfor of theobjects while supported by the element, and subsequently releasing theobj act by discontinuing the vacuum when the object has reacheditsdestination.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of simpleconstruction for supporting the aforesaid vacuum element, and for movingthe same, whereby the trans "e'ai of the objects from one location toanother may be readily accomplished.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a specificadaptation of the-principlos set forth above in the form of mechanismadapted for association with and actuation by a job printing press,orthe like, whereby a sheet of paper may be elevated and conveyed from asource ofsupply thereof to the platen of the press, thereby bviating thenecessity for accomplishing the same purpose by hand.

' in addition to the foregoing my inventioncon'iprehends improvements inthe details of construction and, arrangement of parts to be 'parts of aprinting press of conventional type. j p

v Fig. 2, is a View of the apparatus .of the preceding figure in frontelevation and 3 is adetail view in section ofja valve. it-h reference tothe drawings, iirdi cates generally a portion of the frame of a jobprinting cross or the like, and 11 the platen thereo. which in thisinstance is presumed to be stationary, neveitheless it will he foundthat. the apparatus of the present invention may be adapted foroperation in connection with a, movable platen as well.

The present invention includes a frame indicated generally at 12, andwhich comprises a pair ofspaced, parallel brackets 13 and 1 1 havingextensions at one of their ends inclica-ted at 15 whereby the frame maybe secured to the frameof the printing press. The frame 12 is formedcentrall and be tween the brackets with a longitu inally extendingenlargement 16 apertured to form-a guide, andsimilar enlargements 17 and18 extending laterally front the arms 13 and 11 adjacent the extension15 thereof, the guides 16, 17 and 18 being apertured and disposedparallel with relation to each other, and preferably horizontally. lheopposite eX- tremities of the arms 13 and 14 are pro vided respectivelywith universal joints 1.) and 20, the receptive member of the joint 19being indicated at 21. The spherical member of the joint 19 is indicatedat 2:2, and is formed with a'substantially U shaped bearing bracket the,arms of which are indicated at 2-1. and are apertured to supportfor-rotation one end of a lifting and conveying arm indicated at 25.Thus, it will be seen that owing to the universal joint 19, said liftingarm is capable of arcua-te movement in either a vertical 01' horizontalplane, or planes intermediate therebetween.

An actuating arm indicated at 26 is provided with a spherical member 27for operation within the receptive member 28 of the aforesaid universaljoint 20, and the opposite or upper extremity of the said arm is adaptedfor connection with the arm 25 through. the medium of a universal jointindicated generally at 28. Sai d universal joint includes a bifurcatedportion 29, on the extremity of the arm 26, and a bifurcated portionswiveled to a collar 31 which is slidably mounted upon the arm 25 and isadapted to be secured in any position thereof through the medium of aset screw 32. It is to be noted at this point, that the aforesaiduniversal joints 19 and. 2-9, are preferably in the same horizontalplane, and in. transverse alinement, the line extending transverselythrougl'i said joint being midway between the point from which scribedactuating rod 26.

the objects are to be lifted to the point at which they are to bereleased and deposited. Thus, the arms 25 and 26 are disposed at anangle with relation to each other and this angle may be varied byadjusting the collar 31 along the rod 25 for such purposes as may beobvious in connection with the use of this apparatus.

Slidably mounted-within the guide block 18 of the aforedescribed frame12, is a rod 33 having connection with a link 34 through the medium of auniversal joint 35, the opposite end of the link 34 being connectedthrough the medium of a universal joint, indicated generally at 36 tothe aforede- The universal joint 36 includes a bifurcated portion 37 onthe extremity of the link 34, and a collar 38 slidably mounted upon therod 26 and having a bifurcated portion 39, and amember 40 connectingsaid bifuracted portion, in a manner similar to the afore describedcollar 31, the last mentioned collar 38 is adapt ed for movement alongthe rod 26 and is provided with a set screw for securing the collaragainst movement subsequent to adjustment. The rod 33 is provided at itsend adjacent the universal joint with a pin, and a coil spring 41 isencircled about the rod and fastened to the pin and to the front face ofthe guide block 18, thereby urging the rod 33 in a rearward direction.The opposite end of the rod 33 projects beyond the rear end of theguiding block is bifurcated to' receive therebetween a roller 42journaled for rotation in a vertical plane and is adapted to bearagainst an actuating cam 43 fixedly secured to a shaft 14 which isjournaled for rotation in the frame of the printing press. The shaft 14is provided with a spur gear or its equivalent 15 for engagement with agear 46 forming a part of the mechanism for operating the printing presswhereby the conveying or transferring mechanism may be actuated in.unison therewith.

The guide block 16 is similarly provided with a rod 47 slidable therein,the forward extremity of which rod is connected through the medium of auniversal joint 48 to a link 49 which is connected through the agency ofa universal joint 50 at its opposite end to an arm 51 which extends atrightangles from the rod 25 for rotation therewith and is disposedbetween the arms 24 of the U- shaped bearing member 23. A pin isinsert-- 1 ed transversely through the rod 47 adjacent the univarsaljoint 18 thereof, and a coil spring 52 is encircled about said rod andinterposed between said pin and the front face of the guide block 16whereby to urge said rod in a rearward direction. The rear end of therod 47 is provided with a bifurcated portion 53 forming a support for aroller 54: journ aled for rotation in a vertical plane, and adapted tobear against the lifting rod'cam 55 fixedly secured to the aforesaidshaft 14. I

Mounted upon .the .free terminal of the lifter rod 25 is a vacuumelement indicated generally at 56, and which includes an inverted cup 57of soft rubber or the like, having a passage therein placed incommunication with a flexible fluid conducting tube 58, which extends incontiguous relation to the said lifter rod and is connected at itsopposite end to one port of a valve 59 through the medium of a shortsection of tubing 60. The valve 59 is set forth in detail in Fig. 3 fromwhich it will be noted that the valve is of the three way type, andcomprises a three way port 61 in its casing which is in communicationwith the short tubular section 60, a port 62 substantially in alinementtherewith for connection through the medium of a tube section 62 to areceptacle, pump or the like wherein a constant vacuum is maintained,and a port 63 substantially at rightangles to the center lineconnectingthe aforesaid ports 61 and 63, which port 63 is adapted to beplaced in communi cation through the medium of a conductor 54 with asource of air under pressure- The valve proper is mounted for rotationwithin the valve casing, as indicated at 65, provided with ports thereinand an operating handle 66. The valve 59 is placed adjacent the aforedescribed guide block 17, and a rod 67 is slida-bly mounted within saidguide block, and is provided at its forward extremity with a bifuractedportion 68 through which the handle 66 of the valve extends. A pin isextended transversely through the rod 67 and coil spring 69 isinterposed between said pin and the front face of the block 17, forurging the rod in a rearward direction, and to cause the valve withinthe valve casing to overlap both of the ports 62 and 63, therebydisestablishing communication between either the source of vacuum orcompressed air, and the vacuum element 56. The rear end of the rod 67 isbifurcated, as at 70, and provided with a roller 71 journaled thereinfor rotation in a vertical plane, and in engagement with a' valveactuating cam 72 also mounted upon the aforesaid shaft 44 for rotationtherewith.

.To further increase the efficiency of my apparatus, I may provide asupport in the nature of a turn table indicated at 73 for supporting thepaperrwhich is to be transferred to the platen of the printing press, byrotating this turntable, the paper may be disposed at such an anglerelative to the apparatus and of the platen as to enable the apparatusto deposit the paper upon the platen in the proper position. 7

In operation, the lifter arm 25 of the apparatus is disposed with itsfree extremity and vacuum element adjacent the turn table and in theposition indicated in llig. 1. The arm is adapted to rest upon-thesurface of the paper supported up on the turn-table,

and follow the stack of paper asit-deoreases press, and. at thepropermoment,:thatis when the type form' 'hasleftthe-platen, the cam 72 shouldactuatethe sliding rod 67 to rotate the valve whereby'to dispose theport 62 in communication with the pipe section whereby a vacuum from thesource thereof is communicated to within the vacuum cup, and as aresult, the-top sheet ofpaper in contact with the lower surfaceor edgeof the vacuum cup will beheldthereagainst. The next succeeding operationis induced by the cam 43, and as a result thereof the rod 33 ispermitted to movebackward under the tension of its spring 41, so as tospring the actuating rod 26-uponits universal connection 20, therebyinturn swinging the lifter arm 25 and owing to the angular relation ofsaid lifter arm, and arm '26, to swing the vacuum cup in the arc of acircle which will be partly in a vertical and partly in a horizontalplane. Continued movement of the lifter arm 25 and its said actuatingarm 26, y

will thus carry the sheet of paper which adhorse to the vacuum cup fromthe supply thereof upon its table/7 3 to the platen 11 of theprintingpress. During. such movement,

the sheet paperadhering to the vacuum cup is obviously changing itsposition with relation to the paper remaining upon the turntable 7 3,and before it has reached the platen, the'lifter rod actuating cam 55will have rotated to position, to permit the rod 47 to move rearwardunder the tension of its spring whereby to cause the link 49 to exert apull upon the arm 51 thereby slightly r0- tating the lifterarm 25whereby to dispose the paper supported upon said arm from a horizontalplane to a plane at an angle thereto, which angle coincides with theangle of the platen 11' of the printing press. At theinstant when thepaper has reached the platen, and when the cam 43 isacting :to urge therod 38 forwardto replace the actu ating rod 26 and consequentlytherod 25to its former position, the shaft 72 will, by continued rotation,{rotate the valve within the valve casing to establish communication Vthe between the port-63 and thevacuui-n element. Thus, pressure will becreated "within the vacuum cup whereby to force thepaper supportedthereby upon the platen.

Thus it will be seen, the operation of tra nsferrmgthe paperfrom asource ofsuphas been set tforth in detail in connection with a printingpress, for feeding papers thereto, nevertheless, it may be employed toraise and transfer other lightobjeets in @011- nec'tion with othermachinery or in other arts and industries, and therefore, "I {do notdesire to limit myself in this a qplieation to the use as herein setforth. ind furthermore, whileI have illustrated and described myinvention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practicethat various alterations thereover may be made and I therefore reserve t1e right and privilege of chan inglthe form of the details ofconstruction, or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlatedparts without departing from the spirit of'the invention orthe scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecureby Letters Patent is 1. In a paper conveying mechanism forprinting presses, an arm, means supporting one end of the arm to permituniversal swinging movement thereof and to permit rotary axial movementof the arm, means forming an auxiliary support for thearni to causeswingingmovement thereofin the are of a circle and to cause the free endof the arm to travel in a path lying between a horizontal and verticalplane, means for swinging the-arm in the manner state'chmeans forrotating the arm axially, a vacuum cup carried by the free end of thearm, and means for creating a fall of pressurein the cup in one positionof the arm, and .ariseof pressure therein in another positionof the arm.

2. In a conveying apparatus, a vacuum cup; an arm for supporting thecup, supporting means for the arm pern'iitting universal swingingmovement thereof, means for swinging said arm in one direction or theother, and means operable for creating a rise of pressure within the cupin one position of itssupporting arm on a decrease in pressure inanother position thereof.

3.111 a conveying apparatus, a vacuum cupjfor engaging an obj ect,anjarm. support iug at one extremity the cup, means supporting the otherend of the arm and for permitting universal movement thereof, anactuating arm, asupportfor said arm permitting universal movementthereof, means connecting the opposite extremity of the actuating armwith the aforesaid lifting arm, means for moving said actuating armwhereby the lifting arm may be moved to cause the cup thereon todescribe a path in a plane which is intermediate between a vertical andhorizontal plane, and means for creating a decrease of pressure withinthe cup While in its first position, said means being operable to createan increase of pressure within the cup at its second position.

4. In a conveying apparatus, a frame, a lifting arm, a universal jointconnecting one end of said lifting arm with the frame whereby universalmovement of the arm may be permitted, a vacuum cup supported at theopposite extremity of the arm, an actuating arm, a universal jointsupported upon the frame for supporting one extremity of said actuatingarm, a universal joint connecting the opposite extremity of saidactuating arm with the'lifter arm, said arms being thus disposed indiverging relation, means for swinging the actuating arm upon itsuniversal support whereby to cause the vacuum cup to describe an arc ina plane intermediate between a vertical and horizontal plane, means forrotating the lifter rod when it has reached its second position todispose the object supported by the vacuum cup in a plane different fromits former plane, and means for creating a decrease of pressure in thecup when in its former posi tion, said means being operable to create arise of pressure in the cup at the second posi tion thereof.

5. In combination with a job printing press,'means for feeding paper tothe platen thereof, including an arm mounted for universal movement, avacuum cup supported by said arm to receive and adhere to a sheet ofpaper, means for moving said arm from a location adjacent the source ofpaper supply to the platen, and means for creating a decrease ofpressure below atmospheric pressure within the cup when it is adjacentthe source of paper supply, said means bein operable to create a rise ofpressure a ove atmospheric pressure within the cup when the paper isbrought adjacent the platen.

6. In combination with a job printing press, means for feeding paper tothe platen thereof including an arm mounted for universal oscillation, avacuum cup supported thereby, means for imparting to said arm a movementwhereby the cup may be swung in an are which is in a plane intermediatebetween a vertical and horizontal plane whereby to transfer paper from asource of supply thereof to the platen, and means for creating adecrease of pressure below atmospheric pressure in the cup at its firstposition, to cause the paper to adhere thereto, said means beingoperable to create an increase of pressure above atmospheric pressurewithin .the cup when adjacent the platen to cause the paper to bereleased therefrom.

7. In combination with a job' printing press means for feeding paper tothe platen thereof, including a lifter arm supported at one end foruniversal movement, a vacuum cup supported at its opposite end, anactuating arm universally connected to said lifter arm and extending indiverging relation thereto, means for universally supporting theopposite end of said actuating rod, means for swinging said actuatingrod to thereby move the lifter rod to cause the cup to move in the arcof a circle which is in a plane intermediate between a vertical andhorizontal plane and means for creating a decrease of pressure withinthe cup when at its first position to engage and adhere to a sheet ofpaper, said means being operable to create a rise of pressure within thecup when adjacent the platen to cause the paper to be releasedtherefrom.

8. In combination with a job printing press, means forfeeding paperthereto i11- cluding an arm, means supporting the. arm to permituniversal movement thereof, a vacuum cup upon the opposite extremity ofthe arm, an actuating rod universally connected to said lifting arm, andextending in diverging relation thereto, means supporting the oppositeextremity of the actuating rod for permitting universal movementthereof, a cam shaft adapted to be operated by the operating mechanismof the printing press, a-trio of cams fixedlv secured to said shaft,means operable by one of the cams for actuating the actuating arm tothereby move the lifter arm to cause the vacuum cup thereof to describea path which is in a plane intermediate a vertical and horizontal plane,pneumatic means for creating a decrease of pressure within the cup tocause a sheet of paper to adhere thereto, whereby the paper may bebrought adjacent the platen, means operable by the second cam forrotating the lifter rod to dispose the paper supported by the cup in aplane coincident with the plane of the platen, and means operable by thefirst cam for actuating the pneumatic means, said pneumatic means beingoperable to create a rise of pressure within the cup when in its secondposition to cause the paper to be released therefrom.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST N. noeun.

Witnesses: E. T. MOYLER, JOHN A. HoUK.

. topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0."

